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01-15-2015, 06:55 PM
Bills' Defense Won't Go Belly-up By Losing Jim Schwartz (http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/16959/bills-defense-wont-go-belly-up-by-losing-jim-schwartz)
Buffalo Bills (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills) defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz decided Monday to part ways with the team (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12158322/jim-schwartz-return-buffalo-bills) upon the arrival of coach Rex Ryan. It might not be the news Bills fans were hoping for -- Buffalo ranked fourth in overall defense in 2014 -- but it was a predictable outcome, given that Schwartz's and Ryan's defensive philosophies and schemes differ greatly.
I called their potential pairing an "odd marriage" (http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/16914/follow-up-thoughts-on-rex-ryan-and-bills) last week, and it's probably for the best that the two didn't try to meld together competing defensive identities. Even though coaches often talk about "adapting to personnel" and "doing whatever it takes to win," they are often stubborn creatures of habit. They want to run their own scheme and have their own people in charge.
Instead of having two strong personalities running some ambiguous mix of their systems, Ryan likely will have Dennis Thurman and most of the defensive staff from the Jets teaching and coaching what they know best, and that's the best outcome for the Bills.
While Schwartz's system worked well for the Bills this season, keep in mind that former coordinator Mike Pettine's approach -- which he learned from Ryan -- turned the defense from one of the league's worst in 2012 to one of the best in 2013.
In fact, there were fears when Schwartz arrived that he would make the defense less aggressive than it was under Pettine, who had left to become coach of the Cleveland Browns. He eased some of that worry by stressing the importance of "continuity" in his introductory news conference, but ultimately he ran a close parallel to his system in Detroit, where he was head coach for five seasons -- with very little carryover from Pettine's system.
It worked for Schwartz. He was allowed to do what he does best, just as Ryan now will be able to do.
And guess what? It will probably work for Ryan, too.
Interesting take on the loss of Schwartz. Sparky is going to whine all off season, and probably all next season, of the terrible move the Bills did not not elevating Jim Schwartz instead of hiring Rex Ryan.
Well, Schwartz had a mixed record as Detroit's HC. His team made the playoffs once, losing the one game they were in after two years. It went downhill fast after that with a 4-12 and 7-9 record. He was replaced in 2014 and the Lions had their best season in 23 years with a 11-5 record and the playoffs where they lost to the Cowboys in a referee tainted debacle.
Schwartz was no miracle worker for Buffalo's defense as indicated above.
I'm encouraged by the totally new coaching staff. I've been calling for that to happen for weeks now. Whaley is still around, and that still spells trouble in my eyes. Since Ryan is reporting to Pegula instead of Whaley, this should be interesting to see who gets their way come a disagreement between Ryan and Whaley.
Rex Ryan is no shrinking violet. Should at least be entertaining!
Buffalo Bills (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills) defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz decided Monday to part ways with the team (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12158322/jim-schwartz-return-buffalo-bills) upon the arrival of coach Rex Ryan. It might not be the news Bills fans were hoping for -- Buffalo ranked fourth in overall defense in 2014 -- but it was a predictable outcome, given that Schwartz's and Ryan's defensive philosophies and schemes differ greatly.
I called their potential pairing an "odd marriage" (http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/16914/follow-up-thoughts-on-rex-ryan-and-bills) last week, and it's probably for the best that the two didn't try to meld together competing defensive identities. Even though coaches often talk about "adapting to personnel" and "doing whatever it takes to win," they are often stubborn creatures of habit. They want to run their own scheme and have their own people in charge.
Instead of having two strong personalities running some ambiguous mix of their systems, Ryan likely will have Dennis Thurman and most of the defensive staff from the Jets teaching and coaching what they know best, and that's the best outcome for the Bills.
While Schwartz's system worked well for the Bills this season, keep in mind that former coordinator Mike Pettine's approach -- which he learned from Ryan -- turned the defense from one of the league's worst in 2012 to one of the best in 2013.
In fact, there were fears when Schwartz arrived that he would make the defense less aggressive than it was under Pettine, who had left to become coach of the Cleveland Browns. He eased some of that worry by stressing the importance of "continuity" in his introductory news conference, but ultimately he ran a close parallel to his system in Detroit, where he was head coach for five seasons -- with very little carryover from Pettine's system.
It worked for Schwartz. He was allowed to do what he does best, just as Ryan now will be able to do.
And guess what? It will probably work for Ryan, too.
Interesting take on the loss of Schwartz. Sparky is going to whine all off season, and probably all next season, of the terrible move the Bills did not not elevating Jim Schwartz instead of hiring Rex Ryan.
Well, Schwartz had a mixed record as Detroit's HC. His team made the playoffs once, losing the one game they were in after two years. It went downhill fast after that with a 4-12 and 7-9 record. He was replaced in 2014 and the Lions had their best season in 23 years with a 11-5 record and the playoffs where they lost to the Cowboys in a referee tainted debacle.
Schwartz was no miracle worker for Buffalo's defense as indicated above.
I'm encouraged by the totally new coaching staff. I've been calling for that to happen for weeks now. Whaley is still around, and that still spells trouble in my eyes. Since Ryan is reporting to Pegula instead of Whaley, this should be interesting to see who gets their way come a disagreement between Ryan and Whaley.
Rex Ryan is no shrinking violet. Should at least be entertaining!